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A power play within the Labour Party has seen its leadership reject Governor Alex Otti’s move to unilaterally call a National Executive Council meeting. The party is also questioning the Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to leave it out of a key quarterly meeting with political parties.
A communiqué issued on Tuesday, after the National Working Committee met at the Labour Party’s Abuja headquarters on Monday, claims that Abia State Governor Alex Otti intended to dissolve the party’s executive councils at all levels, including the National Executive Council, state, local government, and ward executives, on the grounds that their tenures had expired.
According to the party, Governor Otti’s attempt to disband the executive councils was justified by his assertion that INEC had declared their tenures expired. In a separate move, the Labour Party has constituted a 7-member Standing Disciplinary Committee to take action against members who fail to adhere to the party’s constitution and lawful instructions from its leadership.
Read also: 2023 Polls: Alex Otti Thanks Abia Professionals For Support
The party’s Standing Disciplinary Committee boasts a strong lineup, with Kehinde Edun, National Legal Adviser, at the helm as Chairman. The committee’s membership also includes Clement Ojukwu, Deputy National Chairman; Ayo Olorunfemi, Deputy National Chairman; Dudu Manuga, National Women Leader; and Callistus Ihejiagwa, Chairman of the Imo State chapter.
Rounding out the committee’s membership are Raji Mohammed, Chairman of the Kano State chapter, and Umar Farouk Ibrahim, National Secretary, who will also serve as the committee’s Secretary.
Convened by the National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, and the National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, the NWC meeting which briefed attendees of the outcome of the meeting between Otti and Abure warned against attempts to factionslise LP, as it stated “unequivocally that there is no vacuum in the leadership of our Party.”
